Survey: IT Leaders Concerned About Rising Malware Levels

Mar 16, 2012

With cloud computing, social media and other data-intensive technologies seemingly here to stay, many companies are collecting and managing more data than ever before. However, their ability to secure such

With cloud computing, social media and other data-intensive technologies seemingly here to stay, many companies are collecting and managing more data than ever before. However, their ability to secure such information - much of which is sensitive in nature - has become a highly debated topic in IT circles.

While many organizations have invested in upgraded data protection technology and implemented new security policies, a large portion of IT professionals are concerned that cyberthreats are still more sophisticated than their current defense systems, according to a recent Norman ASA study. Sixty-two percent of IT leaders believe that malware is becoming more sophisticated faster than their enterprise can improve its threat detection capabilities, the report said.

"It is widely recognized that the volume and sophistication of threats continues to grow dramatically, yet many organizations are only incrementally adding resources to better understand these threats," said Darin Andersen, vice president and general manager, North America for Norman.

Additionally, 58 percent of respondents said the growing number of threats is their most significant concern this year, a result of many organizations failing to improve their security strategies to satisfactory levels.

Malware is also a top worry for businesses with a mobile workforce or bring-your-own-device policies, as experts say malware targeting smartphones and tablets has reached an all-time high.